Potato-digger.



J. MOREA'U. POTATO DIGGEB.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8,1908.-

925, 124. Patented June 15,1909.

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JOSEPH MOREAU, or sr. GERMAIN DE GRANTHAM, QUEBEC, CANADA.

POTATO-BIGGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1909.-

Application filed June 8, 1908. Serial No. 437,319.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MOREAU, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at St. Germain de Grantham, county of Drummond, in theProvince of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Potato-Diggers; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to potato diggers andsimilar vegetable harvesting machines, and particularly to the separatormechanism of such machines, whereby the roots are freed from the earthwith which they are dug.

Broadly speaking, the invention comprises a suitable wheeled frame, aplow secured to the frame, a shaker frame suspended from the frame,means for deflecting the earth to the sides of the center of the shakerframe, means for delivering the potatoes through the center of theshaker frame, a chute for delivering the potato vines and similar debristo one side of the machine, means for shaking the shaker frame, and aconveyer for moving the vines, &c., toward the chute.

In order to more clearly disclose the construction, operation and use ofthe machine, reference should be had to the accompanying drawingsforming part of the present application.

Throughout the several views, in the drawings, like reference charactersdesignate the same arts.

In t e drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine; Fig. 2 is acentral longitudinal section of the machine; Fig. 3 is a view of themachine on line 33 of Fig. 1, lookin forward; Fig. 4 is a rear view ofthe mac hine; and, Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2, looking inthe direction of the arrow.

A sdlid substantial frame 1 of any desired construction, and,preferably, of rectangular form, is provided with journal bearings orsleeves through which passes the freely revoluble axle of the supportingwheels of the machine. To the fore part of this frame is solidly secureda depending scoop-shaped plow 2, by which the potatoes are dug.Transversely of the frame are journalcd two or more crank shafts 3. Fromthe cranks of these shafts are suspended the arms 4 of a shaker frame,which comprises side or longitudinal members 5 and cross members 6, theside and cross members being solidly bolted or otherwisesecuredtogether. To the longitudinal members are removably secured, bybolts or otherwise, a lurality of plates or sections 7 each provide witha lurality of rearwardly and downwardly indlined tines 7. Thus, onreference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the two rows of tines extendtoward each other, leaving a narrow opening running lengthwise ofthe-shaker frame, between them. Above these tines, and extending thefull length of the shaker frame, are a plurality of spring wires 8,connected at their opposite ends, respectively, to the rear of the plow2 and to the rear cross memher 6 of the shaker frame.

Overlying the longitudinal opening between the tines 7 and spacedslightly above the same, is a deflector plate 9, having one end rigidlyconnected to the rear cross beam 6 of the shaker frame, and its oppositeend connected by spiral springs to the rear edge of the plow 2. Theupper face of this plate should be slightly convex or peaked, in. orderto deflect the earth and potatoes toward its opposite edges.

Of course, as the potatoes, earth, vines, &c., are forced u over theplow 2 and onto the wires 8 and p ate 9, there will be a tendency forthem to fall from the outer edges to the ground. To prevent this,upright guard boards 10,- plates, or the like, have been rovided. Theseare rigidly secured to the ongitudinal members of the shaker frame, andextend for the full length thereof, forming a wall sufficiently high toinsure retention of all'potatoes, earth, &c., passing rearwardly fromthe plow. The rear end of the shaker frame is provided with a rigid tailboard 11, and a plurality of long slanting tines 12, which extend fromone side of the machine clear across to the opposite'side, the tailboard and tines constituting a chute down which the potato vines slide.Thus, the vines and similar debris will be delivered at one side of themachine and tothe rear.

In order to move the vines and similar debris rearwardly and thusprevent clogging of the machine, a conveyer 13 is provided. Thisconveyer serves two purposes: It moves the vines toward the chute, andalso acts as a drive chain or belt for the wheels 14, by which the crankshafts 3 are driven. In order to drive the conveyer, large sprocketwheels 14 are fixed to the main axle of the machine.

It is very desirable to have the plow automatically raised as themachine is turned at the end of each row. To that end, a wheeled forwardguide or sulky frame is provided. About the axle of this frame isrevolubly journaled a yoke 15, provided with a downwardly curved rearbar or rod 16, over which travels a roller 17 mounted in a bracket 18secured to the forward end of the frame 1.

In order to adjust the plow to the proper depth, a drum and ropeconnection are used between the yoke 15 and the sulky frame. Thiscomprises a freely revoluble rod 1.9, journaled in the arms of the yoke15, a drum 2O fixed to the rod, a hoisting rope or cable 21 secured atits opposite ends to the drum and sulky frame, a hand lever 22 fixed. tothe rod 19, and a rack or are plate 23 fixed to one of the arms of theyoke and adapted to coop erate with the catch of the hand lever to lockthe plow in adjusted position.

T e operation of the machine is as follows: The lever 22 is swung eitherforward or backward to wind up or let out the rope or cable 21 until theplow 2 has been adjusted to the desired depth. The catch of the lever isthen allowed to enter a notch in the arc plate 23, and the plow islocked in adjusted position. The machine is now moved forward, forcingthe potatoes, earth, &c., upward over the plow 2 onto the wires 8 andplate 9. At the same time, the forward movement of the ma chine drivesthe conveyer 13, and through it revolves the crank shafts 3, which inturn impart a reciprocating shaking motion to the shaker frame. Suchmotion forces the potatoes and earth from the center of the plate 9toward its edges, and through between the wires 8, to either side of theopening left between the tines 7. However, as the potatoes fall onto thetines 7, they will slide downward and enter these tines toward theopening at the center, being finally delivered in a long row, from suchcenter opening. The earth, which has been deflected by the plate 9, willpass through between the tines 7, and fall at either side of the row.The vines and similar debris will, of course, be carried along towardthe rear of the machine by the conveyor 13, from which they will finallypass to the chute formed by the tail board 11 and tines 12. The chute,extending completely across the machine, will, of course, guide thevines out and completely away from or to one side of the machine. Thus,it will be evident that the potatoes will be delivered in a long rowfrom the center of the machine completely free from earth and vines andall other debris, the earth being separated and deflected to either sideof such row, and the vines and similar debris being deposited at aconsiderable distance to one side of the row.

As the machine completes a row and turns to take the next row in theopposite direction, the upward curve of the rod 16 will be forcedbeneath the roller 17, thus raising it and the forward end of the frame1 to which it is connected. Of course, as the frame is raised, the plow2 will be raised with it, thus allowing free turning movement of themachine. i/Vhen the machine has been again turned into a straightforwarddirection, the roller 17 will be seated in the low part or hollow of therod 16, thus allowing the plow 2 to drop to the position at which it wasoriginally set.

It is clear that many changes may be made in the construction,arrangement and combi nation of the several parts of the machine, andthat substitutions may be made, without in any way departing from thefield and scope of the invention, and it is meant to include all suchwithin this application, wherein only a preferred form has been shownand described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what 1 claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A potato digger of the character described, comprising a frame, aplow secured thereto, a shaker frame suspended from said frame in therear of said plow and adapted to receive potatoes therefrom, ahorizontally disposed deflecting plate in said shaker frame, extendinglongitudinally thereof and adapted to deflect the potatoes laterallyfrom its upper surface, and. means for shaking said shaker frame.

2. A potato digger of the character described comprising a frame, a plowsecured thereto, a shaker frame suspended from said frame in the rear ofsaid plow, a plurality of tines secured to said shaker frame andprojecting inwardly toward the center thereof, a deflecting platesecured to said shaker frame above said tines, and means for shakingsaid. shaker frame.

A potato digger of the character described comprising a frame, a plowsecured thereto, a shaker frame suspended from said frame and in therear of said plow, separating wires secured to said shaker frame, aplurality of tines secured to said shaker frame below said separatingwires and directed inwardly toward the center of said frame, adeflecting plate secured to said shaker frame above said tines, andmeans for shaking said shaker frame.

4. A potato digger of the character described comprising a frame, a plowsecured thereto, a shaker frame suspended from the frame and providedwith a longitudinal opening adapted to allow the passage of potatoes, adeflecting plate mounted in said shaker frame and extendinglongitudinally of the same, and overlying the opening therein, and meansfor shaking the shaker frame.

5. A potato digger of the character described comprising a frame, a plowsecured thereto, a shaker frame suspended from said frame in the rear ofsaid plow and adapted to receive potatoes therefrom, a deflecting plateextending longitudinally thereof, spring connections between saiddeflecting plate and said plow, and means for shaking said shaker frame.

6. A potato digger of the character described comprising a frame, a plowsecured thereto, a shaker frame suspended from said frame in the rear ofsaid plow and adapted to receive potatoes therefrom, a convex defleetingplate in said shaker frame and eX- tending longitudinally thereof, andmeans for shaking said shaker frame.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH MOREAU.

l/Vitnesses:

EUGENE M. SLINEY, W. S. BABCOCK.

